Monday, August 31, 2009

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri &Bismarck TettehThe 28th day of February has been declared as founder’s day by the President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors Kwadwo Osei Asante. This was during the launch of the founder’s day of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre in Accra. The founder’s day, he noted was to pay proper and fitting glowing tribute to the pioneers, the founding fathers and mothers through whose toil and sweat brought them where they are today. “We further salute those who watered the seed over the years sown by these Pioneers until fruition.” He stated and guaranteed that their efforts will not be in vain.Kwadwo Osei Asante stressed that instead of celebrating the day with their founding members, due to historical references in their constitution, the founder’s day was launched as a yearly celebration. He added that the greatest challenge the institute faces is their financial base and therefore on behalf of the Governing Council invited suggestions and inputs from all on how best to improve upon their finances and concluded that the institute that boast of many wealthy members are beset with poor finances.

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey TettehThe police have explained the recent announcement to check the use of motor bikes.The Police Administration, on Monday issued a press release to correct the misconception surrounding the instituted security measures to check the use of motor bikes to commit crime, especially armed robbery.The police Administration in the release noted that the point is to conduct thorough security checks on motor-bike being used after 8:00pm and not a ban. The release further explained that a lot of emphasis will be placed on places like Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi Tarkoradi, Cape Coast and not Tamale, Bolga and Wa where street robbery with motor bikes is not prominent.The police in the release stated that they had enough evidence to prove that motor bikes are used to facilitate armed robbery activities especially at night. Decent people in society were charged not to be worried about the measures being taken by the Police because they are aimed at ensuring their safety and well being. The police stated in the release that the name of the rider, his or her license, registration document of the motor bike, whether the number tallies with the documents of the motor bike and a search on the motor bike are some of the routine information and checks the police will demand when encountered and noted that the exercise is not limited only to motor bikes but all kinds of vehicles.“The war on armed robbery continues, and the police call for the support of the general public and media in particular in this regard.”

Thursday, August 27, 2009

REPORT REACHING Daily Guide indicated that brothers and cousin of the Accra Mayor, Mr. Alfred Vanderpuije have taken over the decongestion exercise.Mr. Vanderpuije, who is currently out of the country, is alleged to have ordered his brothers and cousin to carry on with the decongestion exercise on the streets of Accra.An eye witness told daily guide that the alleged brothers and cousin of the Mayor last Wednesday invaded the streets of Achimota polling down structures and beating innocent people in the process. He also disclosed that the brothers and cousin of the Mayor also ceased food which some people were eating in the name of decongestion.Mr. Ben Armah, the administrator of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Inspector Okai, the people supposed to be in charge of this exercise, had no idea of what happened in Achimota last Wednesday. According to the eye witness, it seemed the Decongestion exercise has now become a family affair.

In another development, the police and the AMA under took a similar exercise at industrial area close to the railway lines where one Quansah, the area manager for the Ghana railways authority and Amoako Ata, who claimed he owned the land aided in the exercise.According to an eye witness, Mr. Peter Tano, the AMA earlier this year asked the squatters to move their belongings 30 meters away from the railway line which they did.Mr. Peter who is a mechanic added that around 11am last Wednesday the AMA task force together with a police man undertook a similar demolishing exercise resulting in the destruction of three of his clients vehicles.He admitted that the police dispatched their squad when the life of the police man present was threatened. “When things became calm, they police told us they had no instruction to carry out such an exercise.” He continued to say that the squatters pay 120 GHC to Amoako Ata each year.According to Ramatu Iddrisu whose finger was hit with a hammer noted that she lost her bag which contained 75 GHC whiles fleeing after, hearing a gun shot from the police. She concluded that she would be happy if such exercises were done the right way in this country.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey TettehWHEN Komieteh turned twenty, he went to see a fortune teller so he would know what his future would be like. “All is well, your future will be great, blessed with children and riches.” the fortune teller predicted. She however added that there was going to be a complication. Komieteh was going to loose his first child when the child turns twenty and his death would be remembered by his family.Mr. Komieteh was initially worried but after five years, when things started to look good, he forgot about it. He got married to Sally and after some months, she was pregnant, when they went to see the doctor, he confirmed that it was boy. When the baby was born, the couple named it Bruce. In his youthful days, Bruce was very helpful and industrious. Not only would he do the chores for his lazy brother John, but he could fix electronic gadgets, small toys and even sometimes his father’s television set when it got broken.When Bruce turned twenty, he had an accident whiles trying to save Jane, a five year old girl who stayed across the road from being rundown by a car. When Mr. Komieteh, heard about it, what the fortune teller had told him about his son immediately struck him. Naturally, the thought of losing his intelligent first boy frightened him.In that accident, Bruce suffered a serious fracture in his leg and was hospitalized for three months. And even after he was completely healed, Komieteh could not leave him all alone at home so he took three months break from work. The three months was up and he had to go back to work. Bruce had then recovered fully but he had to stay indoors because his dad begged him to. After two days of staying at home all alone he asked his dad to help him get rid of the loneliness.He allowed Komieteh to baby sit for Aunty Sarah, Komieteh’s sister. Jane had three children.One Tuesday afternoon when Bruce thought he had put the three kids to bed, he also decided to have a short nap. Whiles he was sleeping, Kweku, one of the kids lighted a candle and it accidentally fell on one of the mattress in their room. Bruce who was in the next room woke up when he heard the kids screaming, rushed into their room only to see that the most of the things in the room were on fire. He called the fire service department and tried to get the kids out.While waiting for the fire fighters, he went into the fire and succeeded in getting two of the children to safety but the third one was trapped under the bed. With all bravery, Bruce managed to get into the inferno and saved the life of the last child. Unfortunately on his way out, the door frame fell on him.When the fire service people got to the house, that particular room was on fire and the kids were standing outside. They put out the fire but Bruce was died. Incidentally, he died out of suffocation, and not from any burns.On the day of his burial, Komieteh told the people present that his son died saving three children. What the fortune teller told him some years ago had come to pass.

Moral Lesson: “Heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences”.

Friday, August 21, 2009

by: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey TettehTWO PERSONS are reported dead in the Bawku municipality in the Upper East Region as a result of sporadic gun shots in the area on Thursday 20th August at about 7:45pm. The killing of the two including the fifty-five year old fire service man, Fataw Mahama has since not been linked to the conflict in the area neither has it been linked to the presence of the presidential spoke person Mahama Ayriga, but some residents who spoke to Daily Guide said they suspect that it was as a result of a latent and anxiety which has engulfed the municipality since the court started hearing the case of the sitting member of parliament for Bawku central Drahamani Adamu. Some residents also suspect that Mr. Ayriga’s to and fro movement in the municipality and some recent comment and promises he has been making at some ‘small-small’ gatherings might have contributed to the tension which inflamed some passions in the area. The other person killed was Abdul Geniru, a thirty year old man. One old man also sustained gun shot injuries and a young lady was also hit by a stray bullet.So far thirty three suspected persons have been arrested from the Ntinga and Sabongari areas, since the incidents happened around these areas. Eye witnesses said that the alleged gun men after shooting at the Ntinga area were seen running towards the Sabongariarea. Security expects in the Bawku municipality believe that the gun men took advantage of the rain and thunder strike on Thursday night to commit the crime. The police are still investigating the matter and question the thirty three suspected person s to get the reason and the persons behind the latest killings.Earlier this week, the former member parliament for Bawku West and Legal practitioner, John Ndebugri had advised President Mills through media report to caution his spokesperson Mahama Ayriga to desist from moving round the municipality in the presence of heavy security as thou he was on official assignment. He also advised the Presidential spokesperson to desist from confusing the people of the area that there will be a bye-election , adding that it takes the Electoral Commission to declare a bye-election, should the court disqualify Drahamani Adamu from holding himself as Member of Parliament.However calm has since returned to the area a day after the incidence.

By:Bismarck Nii Ogbamey TettehTHE TERTIARY Education Students Confederacy (TESCON) of NPP has lent its support to the proposed amendments to the party’s constitution.In a separate press release issued by the Greater Accra and Northern Regions branches of TESCON in Accra, the students noted that after carefully studying the party’s constitution, it was necessary that the proposed amendment be carried out at the impending delegates’ conference to be held this year. The students have also endorsed the expansion of the Electoral College to engender an open participatory election of party officers from the base of the party to the top. The release further stated that the amendments will end the situation of voter influence at any level of the party to skew the mandates of the people’s choice, which made party’s elections acrimonious. Also, it is expected to offer a sense of belonging to party members and appreciation as well as common consultation on party issues at all levels of the party. Both regional branches however proposed that the one - slot voting right for each TESCON institution should be increased to three. Citing reasons for the fore-going, the students said a single slot allocation for the intellectual foot soldiers of the party who work hard for the party’s activities was inappropriate.TESCON members number between 2000 and 3000 from all the tertiary institutions in Ghana.The students therefore urged all decision-makers in the party to consider their concerns in their bid to amend the party’s constitution.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I sat in my room trying to figure out what this wonderful feeling was; I mean the abstract word ‘love’, and which of the two women in my life the rightful person is.I had met a very lovely lady in town on my way to lectures last semester, I was stunned at her beauty and asked for her name ,got her contact address and phone number . I promised to call her as soon as I got home from school. Back at home I called her, and sounding so caring and asked me to save my credits for “free night” so we could chat for a longer period.At dawn, I saw ten missed calls on my phone when I woke up; it was Caroline, the lady I met in town. She was so excited I returned the call. I realised we where so alike, got along well on the phone and it was as if we had known each other for ages.After two months, I couldn’t do for a day without speaking to her and she also could not go to bed without hearing my voice. It became clear at that stage that we were in love. One lovely Sunday evening, after some ‘doses’ of palm wine, the inevitable happened. We made love. Even though we both felt guilty over what happened, Caroline accused me of raping her. This resulted in a very painful break-up. During that period of disappointment and heartache, a ‘angel’ from my school, Jane, gave me all the comforting I needed. She kept telling how much she liked me and that she would wait patiently for me to get things straightened up. All the ‘codes and signs’ were thrown my way but because I was so hurt by what Caroline did, I could not decode them.One afternoon after aMass Communications lecture, Jane walked up to me and whispered “I love u” to me, after which she kissed. And while I stood rapt in confusion over what to do, my phone rang. Lo and behold, it was Caroline. She started crying, apologizing to me, asking if she could come back. Even though we were far apart, I could feel that she had regretted her action.“I have forgiven you but let me think about the other option of reconciling”, I told her. I am torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. Who should it be, the devil I know or the angel do not know?

I AM Albert Atta Dodd, two years ago I was diagnosed of having a very serious heart condition and that heart transplant was the only way out.Around that same period, Albus Atta Dodd, my identical twin brother, was also diagnosed with leukemia. Even though we are identical on the outside, we are totally different people in many ways.“I would rather die than endure all that pain in chemotherapy” he said, when he was diagnosed. While Albus liked jazz, classical music and R&B, I loved hip-life, reggae and dance hall. Albus was a very calm, slow to anger but I was erratic and got angry easily. He loved slim and God fearing ladies and I admired ‘bad girls’ with huge booty who loved it rough in bed.

In my case my doctor told me I badly needed a new heart and that if I did not get one within a month, something bad could happen. Consequently, he put my name on an emergency list. The situation was getting bad and when the heart was not coming, I became so very disturbed.One night, I had a call that Albus had been rushed to the hospital. When I got there, he was in a hospital bed and he looked very pale, with his hair almost gone.I broke down into tears, something I had never done since I became an adult. He looked like he was already dead. “I was going to loss my life and my only brother was also dying”, I said to myself.Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and within a couple of seconds I blacked out . When I was resuscitated I felt so weak and tired, and could not breathe well, so I called for my doctor. He told me that my heart had become so weak that he was not gong to allow me to go home or walk around. I quickly asked him about my twin brother and he told me that he was ok, and allowed me to speak to him on phone.After 2 months, my doctor came running to me one early morning that he had found me a heart, and that I was to get prepared for surgery. The operation went well. After two weeks, I became worried because I had not heard from Albus so I asked the nurse to take me to his ward but she refused. When the doctor arrived and I asked him of my brother, he told me that I had not recovered enough and that I needed to recover fully before I could see him. I started to feel uneasy about his response.That evening I bribed a male nurse, who was on night duty, and he took me to my brother’s ward. When I got there, his bed was occupied by another patient so the nurse took me back to my room. After I was discharged, the doctor told me that my brother left me a letter. “Where is he” I asked with anxiety, but he told me to read the letter, adding that "all the answers you needed are in there." It read:“Dear Albert, let me explain why I had to do this. You were at a point of death at a time where my heart was healthy. And because you needed it to survive,I asked the doctor to give mine to you as soon as he realized it was time for me to die, so you will at least have your life back and my heart will be beating inside you. We will then be one. I hope you understand that it was the right thing I did. While the doctors think only one of us had to live, I think both of us can live but in one body. I will always be there with you. From your loving brother, Albus”.Those were my brother’s last words. It’s been two years since, and anytime I think of him, I have a feeling he is inside me. My life has completely changed, and I now like most of the things Albus used to like. I am as calm as he was and any time I talked to people who knew him, they keep telling me that I sounded and behaved like Albus.The only logical explanation for that is his heart beats inside me.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

THE SOCAILIST forum led by Kwasi Pratt donated an amount of GHC 500 to the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary committee towards its celebration.

Mr. Kwasi Pratt a member of the committee and chairman of the Socialist forum urged Ghanaians to see the celebration as a worldwide celebration and not for government only.

He also added that ‘Life Style’ magazine in America has described Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as one of the most important people in the world over the last 1000 years. Stating that “placing Nkrumah where he belongs is as important as providing portable water for people”. Based on this premises, he presented a cheque amount of GHC500 to the committee.

He concluded by urging all political parties, social groups and organisation to make significant donations towards the centenary celebration.

The chairman of the committee, Prof. Akilakpa sawyer was very thankful for the donation. “You have not only made a financial contribution but a vote for this celebration.” he stressed.

He concluded by saying that, the government will do a lot towards the celebration but the occasion calls for everyone’s ideas, commitment, and support calling upon other organisations to donate money towards the celebration.

Friday, August 14, 2009

1. Determine your topic. Exactly what are you going to write about? Brainstorm for ideas if you have to. When writing for wikiHow, you may even wish to refer to requested topics for ideas. 2. Figure out who your audience is. Are you writing for a beginner, an intermediate, or an advanced audience? For example, if you are writing an article about "Creating PowerPoint Slides," are your readers new to PowerPoint, or business people looking for advanced tips? 3. Do your research. How well do you know the topic? Is it something you can write easily about with little or no preparation, or do you need more information from experts in the field? 4. Decide on the length of the article. Teachers, magazines, and newspapers will often give you a limit. wikiHow articles, on the other hand, are often "as long as they need to be and no longer." 5. Compile a list of possible sources for you to consult. This can include documents, internet research and people to talk to. 6. Write either an outline or a summary of your article. This will help bring the concept of the article into sharper focus. 7. Write the rough draft of the article as follows:

* Tell your readers what you are going to tell them. This is your introduction. For example:

o This article explains how to create a PowerPoint slide presentation. It covers the following information: choosing a theme, creating a title slide, and creating topic slides. o The information in this article is written for a beginner. The author assumes that you have never used PowerPoint. * Tell your readers what you promised to tell them. In this section you tell them how to choose a theme, create a title slide, and how to create topic slides. * Tell your readers what you just told them. For example:

o This article taught you how to create a PowerPoint slide presentation. You learned how to choose a template, how to create a title slide, and how to create topic slides. 8. Check over your piece for presentation.

* Check for faulty information. Have you double-checked your facts? * Delete any unnecessary or contradictory information. The only time you should have information that doesn't support your topic is if you're doing a "point-counterpoint" piece. * Eliminate anything that is just taking up space. Don't fill your work with fluff. If you need to do more research, go ahead and do it. * Check for grammar and spelling errors. * Read it aloud to yourself to make sure the text flows smoothly. 9. Rewrite the article as often as it takes. 10. Turn in your completed article.

[edit] Tips

* Neither the outline nor the summary for your article has to be in traditional I, II, III format. The point of formatting is to help you. If you feel you can find your focus by writing a list of incomplete sentences, then go for it. Later, if your teacher wants a formal outline, you can create one from the article itself. * By checking grammar and spelling errors last in the editing process, you won't waste any time by correcting those on something you may delete. * If you're writing for a newspaper or magazine and are new to professional writing, it's customary to introduce yourself and your story in a query or pitch letter. Find the name of the editor who will be handling your piece (i.e.; if you're writing an article about cars for a newspaper, find the name of the car-section editor). This information can be found in the masthead, a box containing the names of the editors, usually found near the front or comment pages of a publication. Write a catchy but brief outline of what your story is about and why that publication's readership would be interested in it. Also include a few lines about your experience as a writer. The tone of this letter should be professional, but affable and friendly. It is not the place to make demands, or admit your shortcomings as a professional writer. Discussing wages and freelance fees should come after the editor has accepted your pitch. * If you have no experience as a professional writer, do not start off pitching columns (opinion pieces). Columns are generally reserved for people who have either been working at a publication for a very long time, or for people who have a particular expertise in a field. If you're new to writing, start small. Think obituaries, human-interest stories and simple news articles. It's generally easier to start with newspapers than with magazines. Try writing for life, fashion, arts, cars or travel sections before pitching stories to news. These sections tend to be understaffed and therefore have a greater budget for freelance writers. * If you're interested in pursuing a career as a writer, be realistic. People who make their living as writers generally start to build their portfolio of published work as early as high school. It generally takes even the most dedicated writer several years before he can make a living off of the trade. In other words, don't quit your day job. Ease into writing gradually, perhaps doing freelance pieces while maintaining a more stable job part-time. * Take some courses in both non-fiction and fiction writing. Not only will they help with your work, but also you can make contacts in the business by getting to know your professors and fellow writers. This will help you to be taken seriously when you start pitching articles for publication. Being a good freelance writer means knowing how to write and how to network. * Make sure your article answers five questions: why, where, when, what and how.

[edit] Warnings

* When writing for a newspaper or magazine, do not do so for free. Ask what their freelance fee is beforehand. Your pay will usually be calculated on a per-word basis. Your work is valuable. Writing for free demeans the profession and makes making a living more difficult for those of us who depend on freelance fees to pay the bills. (But if you're just starting out, volunteering to do some articles for smaller community papers, student publications and trade magazines is a great way to build your portfolio. Be warned that these publications rarely have the money to pay freelancers anyway.) * Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to write the article. If you don't, then you'll be rushing at the last minute to create something that isn't representative of what you can truly do. * Do not be a diva. Your work will go through several editors, copy-editors and fact checkers before being published. It will be changed. Pulling a temper tantrum is a surefire way to not be invited to work for that publication again. * Your reputation as a writer is almost as important as the work you submit, do not make errors or plagiarize. Copying something without attribution is the quickest way to get blacklisted as a writer. Keep your notes and source lists handy so that your editors can verify your work. If you do make a mistake, come clean immediately and apologize profusely. * Don't miss deadlines. Generally speaking, a late article is worse than a mediocre one. * Literary circles are small and gossipy. Don't say anything bad about a fellow writer or editor, ever. You never know who's married to whom.

[edit] Things You'll Need

* Something to write with: computer, pen and paper, etc. * An email account to pitch and submit stories. (Something vaguely professional, no one will take butterflywings23@hotmail.com seriously.) * Research materials. Either go to your bookshelf, the library or find an expert on the topic. * Access to a database like LexisNexis or Factiva. Be sure to see what others have already written on the topic.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Vodafone Ghana last Wednesday unveiled the grand prize for its “Vodafone Rewards promotion” at a ceremony in Accra.The ultimate winner in the on-going promotion stands the chance of taking home a four bedroom Trasacco Valley house with a 4x4 Mitsubishi Pajero and a personal driver for three months.Isaac Kojo Abraham, Manager of Corporate Communications of Vodafone stressed that the grand prize for the Vodafone Rewards is worth a million dollars. “The whole programme was done for customers to feel how real the promotion was,” he added. Mr Abraham wished all costumers luck and advised all who have entered into the promotion to keep their phones active. He stressed that the hallmark of Vodafone is to bring quality telecommunications to the ultimate customer, hence the partnership with Trasacco, an equally class estate developer in Ghana with amazing apartment designs, was a perfect one.The Manager for Corporate Communications noted that no staff or immediate family relative of any staff of the company is allowed to take part in the promotion.Mr. Gideon Sackitey, Public Relations Officer for Vodafone urged all who were present, including the media personnel, to register for the promotion if they have not registered, advising all customers to keep toping up their credits.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Emmanuel A. Tetteh, a mechanic residing at Chorkor has been charged for causing harm to Godwin Kpormagbe and Stephen Nyardewor after he bit their ears.The accused is reported to have become annoyed when he went to Allied Oil filing station to buy fuel and was not served first. In view of this, he allegedly picked a quarrel with the complainants, employees of the stations and in the process bit them.The accused who is on bail has however pleaded not guilty to the charge for which reason three witnesses have already been called to testify.Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Justice D.E.K Dakpetse, Investigating Officer Wisdom Tsade who is the fourth prosecution witness told the court he was on duty at the Chorkor police station when the complainants were rushed to the station. He said the complainants who are workers of the Allied Oil filling station were attending to customers when the accused came with a gallon in hand to buy diesel.Tetteh became angry because he was not served first. This resulted in a misunderstanding between the complainant and the accused.A witness tried to accompany the accused out of the filling station but he came back and confronted the complainant; this degenerated into a struggle and in the course the accused bit the complainant’s left ear. The second complainant, Stephen Nyardewor rushed to the aid of the first complainant only for the accused to bite his left ear as well, chopping part of it. After they had lodged their complaint, they were issued with medical forms to attend hospital for treatment. The accused was arrested to the station and re-arrested for investigation. In his caution statement he did not deny biting the complainants.The case has been adjourned to July 17, 2009.In another development, Vida Owusu, a trader living at Abeka has been charged for defrauding Benjamin Amoah, a businessman of GH¢5,400.The accused pleaded guilty but her sentence was deferred to July 30, 2009.Prosecutor ASP Jubiok Michaels informed an Accra circuit court where the accused was standing trial that early this year, the complainant was in dire need of a store to rent at the Kantamanto market in Accra central. In the process he came into contact with the accused who claimed she had a store at the same location and that she was renting it out for GH¢ 5,400.00 over a period of three years.The accused after receiving an advance payment, showed Amoah a store which turned out not to be hers. Amoah after realizing that he has been defrauded reported the case to the police who then arrested Owusu.After the investigations, the accused was charged with the offence and was arraigned before court.She was granted a GH¢10,000 bail with a surety and convicted on her own guilty plea.

Nana Oye Lithur, Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), has described president Jammeh’s reign as dreadful and a regime of human rights repression.She noted this at a forum organised by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in collaboration with Amnesty International at the International Press Center last Wednesday. It was on the theme: “The Gambia- A Burial Place for Human Rights”Highlighting on the topic, she said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh celebrates his 15 years of toppling the administration of former president Dawda Jawara as “Freedom Day” which ironically, is a day that marked the Gambian descent into tyranny. She emphasized that the Gambian government was responsible for the killing of 44 Ghanaians who were traveling to Europe through Gambia in August 2006; allegations which have been denied by the Gambia president Yahya Jammeh.She also stressed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed by the government of Ghana and The Gambia could hold back investigations into the matter, expressing disgruntlement on the part of Ghana government for not releasing the reports of the ECOWAS Committee that was set up to investigate the killings. She said the report would help the CHRI to make assessments and declare its stand on the issue.Mr. Suwaibou Touray a Gambian journalist and sub editor of a privately owned newspaper, ‘Foroyaa’ shared his experiences of violations of press freedom in Gambia saying that Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of a government owned Daily Observer had been a victim of enforced disappearance since July 2006. He said the reporter was arrested by members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in connection with his trying to publish a BBC article which was critical of the Gambian government. He also said Ebrima Manneh was seen for the first time 188 days after his arrest but the Gambian police continue to deny having arrest or detain him. “Manneh has spent about 350 days in detention or trial but the government still claims that it knows nothing about his whereabouts” he added.Mohammed Shardow from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), said president Jammeh had not hidden its long-standing hatred for independent media, and that he had publicly described the media as elements of opposition. He said many radio stations and newspapers had been closed down under flimsy excuses, some of which are incitement to rebellion and propaganda.Shardow noted that a growing number of journalists are fleeing the repression and persecution of the regime and more than thirty journalists had escaped into exile; those in the country are practicing self-censorship as a means of preventing arrests.He also pointed out that Gambian authorities, including the courts have been demanding bizarre bail conditions for citizens and journalists saying that Halifa Sallah who is a publisher of Banjul- based newspaper was asked by the court to post a bail bond of about US$50,000, three sureties resident in Brikama district, two of whom must be a retired Inspector’s General of Police (IG) and an army Brigadier and ensure the third surety is a District Chief.“There is no retired IG in Gambia. They were sacked whiles in office so how done get a retired IG” he added.Ugonna Duru, Legal Officer, MFWA said when they were entering the Gambia, they were stopped by the immigration, their passports ceased and interrogated for about an hour before they were released.She said there is insecurity in Gambia and it poses a threat to the West African sub region.She also called on the international community and journalists join the campaign to bring an end to the Rule of Fear in Gambia.

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey TettehTHE INFORMATION Minister, Mrs. Zita Okaikoi has urged Ghanaians to see persons with disabilities as social partners who have a big role to play in our quest for development and growth as a society.Mrs. Zita noted this noted during the official launch of a six month campaign on improving attitudes towards people with disabilities at the British council last Wednesday. It was on the theme “Improving Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities”. She further explained that the passage of the Disability Act in 2006 has created the necessary legal framework within which the constitutional rights of persons with disability and their welfare can be explored and protected. This she said, would enable them realize their full potential and contribute their quota towards national development.She also added that is the Government was determined to enhance the social well-being of all, including persons with disabilities and to demonstrate this commitment; government had set up the National Council for Persons with Disability to implement the Law.She stressed that government was ready to provide any assistance to the Centre for Employment of Persons with Disabilities and declared the campaign and Bohyeba documentary launched.Mr. Charles Appiagyei, the acting Executive Director of Action on Disability and Development (ADD) in his closing remarks defined tradition as “handing down from generations to generations of opinions, beliefs, customs etc” or “opinions, beliefs, customs handed down”. Also, he added from the traditional perspective that the birth of physically challenged children most of the time to couple causes broken homes. He continued to say that in Einar Helander’s book “Prejudice and Dignity” stated “that the simplest definition of a disabled person is one who in his or her society is regarded as disabled because of a difference in appearance or behaviour.” Explaining further, he added that the People with disabilities (Pwd) are stigmatized, marginalized and neglected making many excluded, poor, deprived and vulnerable, making them objects of pity, charity and rituals.People with disabilities do not need our sympathy and the equal opportunity to help in the development of the country

THE RECENT shortage of premix fuel was last Wednesday resolved with the unveiling of a new brand of fuel.Briefing the fishermen on the current issue pertaining to the premix fuel at Mantse Agbonaa, James Town in Accra, Zita Okaikoi, the Minister of Information said “people who are politicizing the shortage of the premix fuel are the very people causing the shortage.”She added that measures have been put in place to ensure that fishermen do not face such problems stressing that “if the fishermen do not go and fish, prices of fish will rise and the consumers will be greatly affected.”Mrs Okaikoi added that the colour of the new premix fuel has been changed from the old colour yellow to blue and that the new fuel will not affect the engines of the fisherman’s outboard motor in any way. She also admitted that the new structures put in place requires that the premix fuel tanker drivers must inscribe premix on all the sides of their trucks and that anyone who refuses will not be allowed to purchase the premix fuel at Tema Oil Refinery. The Information Minister also stated that tracking devices would be placed on each and every premix tanker to prevent the drivers from diverting from their locations. Mrs. Okaikoi declared that the current government has cancelled pair trawling and asked fishermen to report any foreign vessel fishing on the sea to the police. Nii Abeo Kyerekuanda, the chief fisherman added that the days where fishermen were regarded as useless and worthless is over.Mr. Nicole also added that the fishermen are suppose to bring representatives for the formation of the committee which will be in charge of the sales of the premix. Mr. Jonathan Nii Tackie Kommey, M.P. for Odododiodoo, assured that before the close of the week, they will provide the names of the representatives.

Mr. Martin Eson- Benjamin, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), unveiled a plaque as part of activities to commission rehabilitated schools at Pakro in the Akuapim South Municipality over the weekend.Mr. Martin in his speech last Friday admitted that he was happy the school project was completed successfully. He continued to say that he was overwhelmed by the turnout of all the dignitaries and the District Chief Executive (Akuapim South Municipal), Honourable Doctor Osei Bonsu to grace the occasion and that he has seen the importance the people of Pakro attach to education.He explained that one of the key projects of the Development Projects of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Ghana Programme is to provide community service in support of Agricultural Transformation Programme. This support, he added covers the rehabilitation and construction of Kindergarten and primary schools, provision of portable water, sanitary facilities and the provision of electricity to rural areas and cottage industries in selected farming communities within 30 beneficiary Districts.Mr. Martin added that the United States Agency for international development (USAID) has also agreed to address the unmet demand for quality teachers in MiDA – constructed schools. They have identified unqualified individuals to be trained by the international foundation for education and self- help (IFESH) to teach in MiDA Schools that are experiencing shortage of teachers. He further explained that the programme has already been launched in Amankwakrom in the Kwahu North District on the 16th day of July this year.“I will like to reiterate the need to maintain these schools.” He added. He urged the district assembly, parent teacher associations and school management committees to undertake periodic and routine maintenance schemes to keep the buildings in good shape all the time.

VODAFONE, ONE of Ghana’s best telecommunication networks has launched the biggest promotion ever in the history of Ghana’s telecommunication industry.Speaking to Business guide last Thursday, Amone Gbedemah the marketing manager of Vodafone admitted that “Vodafone”, is aimed at rewarding prepaid mobile and fixed line voice customers across the country and also to say a big thank you for the overwhelming patronage Vodafone has enjoyed since its launch in Ghana. She also added that retailers were not left out in the promotions, there is one ongoing called “Stock and win”. The promotion started on 20th July and is due to end on 31st October this year. The promotion, she added, entails a furnished Trasacco Valley home with a 4x4 and a personal driver and other exciting prizes to be won including 3 Pajero 4x4 vehicles, 15 Yamaha motorcycles,60 two year scholarships, 30 Dell Laptops, 300 iPod shuffles, 1,500 mobile phones and loads of bonus talk timeShe further explained that company did not want to impose the promotion on their customers so they allow customer to register anytime they want by dialing “1111” .To ensure that the fairness and integrity of the promotion is not compromised, Vodafone has contracted PriceWaterhouseCooper as the sole auditing company to authenticate all entries and the selection of winners.She also urged all customers to register, top-up and keep their phones on since winners will be contacted on their phones.Speaking to Business Guide, people chosen at random admitted that the other networks are also doing some promotions but “Vodafone Rewards” is the biggest promotion they have heard in Ghana with heard blowing prizes and as loyal customers of the network, they believe they can win if not the grand prize, the other prizes involved. Three out of the people whose names were not disclosed said they were happy such a promotion was running and it will attract more customers towards the company but it wasn’t enough to drift them from their old network Zain since Zain gives them back the total amount of credits they buy at the end of every month.A retailer located just beside the Vodafone head office also added that since the launch of the promotion, the number of people who patronize the Vodafone scratch cards have really shot up, making his business very lucrative. Another retailer who deals only in the Vodafone phones also admitted that since the launch of the “Vodafone Reward” promotion, people have been rushing to her shop to purchase the Vodafone phones and that she had run out of the Vodafone music box.

Mr. Dennis Ofosuapea, the President of the Federation of Youth Association of Ghana (FEDYAG) has called on the youth to support the implementation of the national youth policy programme.This he noted will prevent young women and men from engulfing in brothels and hotels and sleeping in coffins in the name of “sakawa” respectively. Adding, the policy will serve as measuring tool to enable us monitor and evaluate the progress being made.Mr. Ofosuapea made this known at the International Press Centre during a press conference last Tuesday.A press statement issued by the federation indicated that, for about seventeen years now the country had been run without a youth policy on the premise that the policy had no action plan and also government is making the policy relevant to the young people of Ghana. He also added that in July, 1999, the policy was launched and in July, 2001, they were told the policy could not be implemented because it was not dynamic enough and that there was no action plan therefore the policy had to be put on hold.The president of FEDYAG however said that in December 2008, they were told the policy had received executive authority. “The young wings of all the political parties were in favour of the policy when it was launched” he stated. He concluded that the youth can hold able arms of government. “For the war to be won, the young men had to hold the able arms of Moses. I therefore call on all young people to stand up and fight for our future”. George Appiah, a media practitioner from Vibe Fm asked if the government would be able to finance the policy in its current economic state if it is implemented. Mr. Ofosupea in his response state that money is not needed to do everything, the policy comes with codes in programme to be held every year. Another media practitioner from Ghanaian Times also advised the house to educate youth on the policy and its advantages and then they can talk of an action plan. He stated that the youth needed to set the trend themselves.

The president of FEDYAG, Mr. Ofosuapea in his closing remarks stated that the youth forms the largest labour force in the country. He asked the government to beat the drums,give them a sense of direction and they will dance to it.

By: Bismarck Nii Ogbamey Tetteh.The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) is alerting the general public on the presence of fake Coartem tablet being distributed countrywide.In a press statement issued by Dr. Stephen K. Opuni, Chief Executive of FDB, it indicated that after series of tests into the efficacy of the product by the Quality Control Laboratory, Coartem tablets turned out not to contain active ingredients as in the original drug. The active ingredients include Artemether and Lumefantrine.The fake Coartem drug, which comes in a dummy-shape, has no positive bearing on patients due to the absence of effective anti-malaria components. The release further emphasized that pharmacies, licensed chemical stores and healthcare facilities ought to dispose off all fake Coartem and its associated drugs from their shelves and dispensaries. Also, it urged healthcare professionals to assist both patients and consumers to distinguish between the genuine Coartem from the counterfeited ones on the market.The public, it added could visit the FDB website, www.fdbghana.gov.gh for pictorial presentations of the fake product and the genuine brand.FDB however assured the public of its commitment to bring such perpetuators in the fake drug business to book.

The acting Director of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo, has tasked journalists to be interested in issues relating to the Global financial crises.This, she said, will equip them on economic development strategies which will help solve the current economic problems. Speaking at a four-day workshop on the theme: “The State of Business and Economic Reporting,” Dr. Gadzekpo revealed that a recent story she read on export market of pawpaw, quoted only the experts, forgetting completely the farmers who were affected, adding “people want to read and hear good and compelling stories on people’s plight, therefore journalists should humanize their stories for people to see and accept the stories. People are not reading business stories because they do not comprehend the stories. She further warned journalists against the use of technical language.Dr. Gadzekpo urged all Business Journalists to go beyond the normal reporting and do more investigations because it enriches their stories. The workshop, held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel was organised by the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and sponsored by Unilever Ghana and the U.S Embassy

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I am a Creative Arts Writer who is also into Strategic Communications, Public Relations, Photography and IT consultancy. I am also Social media enthusiast and an alumni of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).